Dropping The Hammer On Leukemia & Lymphoma, Part Three...

...In Honor of Our Team’s 2012 Honoree Jordan Bachant
as well as friends and colleagues Gary, David & Casey

The bike is tuned. The Garmin is charged. And the spandex is at maximum stretch. That’s right, after a brief hiatus, I have rejoined Central California’s Team In Training. And just like year’s past, I will be training (and fundraising) for America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride – a 100-mile tour around Lake Tahoe. Many of you followed my training exploits and generously donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society the last time around. Thank you. But after giving your pocketbooks and wallets some time off to heal, I am back.

As you may know, members of Team In Training raise funds in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Last year alone, members who rode in the Tahoe event helped raise more than $6,000,000, which directly funded research for Leukemia, Lymphoma and other blood-related cancers as well as support for patients and their families.

So it is with enthusiasm that I am getting back on the bike. I will again be riding for those honorees, who are currently fighting their own battles as well as for family, friends and colleagues no longer with us, who demonstrated untold courage, perseverance and determination during their own battles.

If you are interested in contributing, please visit my TNT fundraising page to make a tax-deductible donation. If you would like to follow my training adventures, check back regularly for ride recaps, pictures and more.

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement.

Ride Recap: My First Tahoe Century

I'm back...again...

I know. I've written it before. But this time i mean it. Really. I swear. Yeah, i'm not convinced either. But let's give it a try.

Having re-upped with the local Team In Training Chapter, a growing-much-too-fast eight-year-old daughter and a road trip to New Orleans in the very near future, there is lots to share with those who are interested...wow, silence can be deafening.

So away we go...well, after this short break.

The First Day of First Grade...

...And so the big day was finally upon us. Having hit the outlet malls (see post below) and gotten the latest in six-year-old fashion, with backpack ready to go full of pencils, three-ring binder, crayons and lunchbox, and with a ton of enthusiasm for the big day, Syd was ready. I made it to her classroom, Number 5 at Century Elementary, a little after 8:00 am. And just a few minutes later, Syd and her mom showed up. Sporting still-drying hair, her new long-sleeved pink shirt and brown cords, Syd was all set...except for the backpack left in the car. Ok, minor hiccup. After a quick trip, she was armed. Friends from kindergarten and Campus Club (after-school care) passed by. A "hi" here and a hug there and Syd was back in her element. Soon thereafter, Ms. Elliot appeared, opened the door and began the process of welcoming her new first grade students, speaking briefly with each parent and posing for a picture with her new pupils. Always prepared and wanting to make a good first impression, Syd had picked a flower, which she presented to Ms. Elliot as she walked in. A couple of days later, she gave her a drawing, which she had been working on the day before, but left at our house.

Syd is now into her second week of first grade and all is going well. She did tell me the other night that two boys called her a "sucker" and then she got hit in the head by a jump rope and in the stomach by a ball, but other than that, no worse for wear. She continues to really enjoy her school, friends and teacher and so we can't really ask for much more. Stay tuned for more first grade updates...

A Girl Needs Outfits

With the first day of school, and specifically, the first day of first grade a mere two days away, it was time to take Syd shopping for some back-to-school clothes. But there would be no Target this year, not today. First grade is big time. And big time calls for real shopping (note: if you can buy lawn furniture and ArmorAll when you are shopping for clothes, well, that is not real shopping). So off to the outlet malls in Tulare we went.

A quick forty-five minutes on the highway and we were there, surrounded by Banana and J. Crew, Nike and Tommy and many, many others. Expecting screaming kids and frenzied parents, we pulled into the parking lot and we're pleasantly surprised at the relative calm.

First stop: Gap For Kids. The clothes were very cute. And I think I was more excited for all of the possible outfits than Sydney was. I picked out butterfly and heart shirts, and when I asked Syd if she liked them/wanted them, her response was, "sure." I think daddy may be more excited for this little excursion than you-know-who. In any event...off to Osh. There, the clothes were more for the younger set, but they had a great deal on long-sleeved T's. So with those in hand and a pair of brown cords, we were set. We tried to find some shoes, but nothing was available in her size. We would have to hit Target for the rainbow sandals she had set her sights on.

With hundreds of stores in the area, we stopped at Banana Republic before heading to lunch. While the clothes weren't exactly to Syd's liking, she did enjoy the accessories, as the pictures attest.

The day concluded with lunch at Chili's and then a trip to see the movie, "Shorts." I will refrain from a review at this time. Suffice it to say, it was infinitely better than "Public Enemies."

And with that, Syd was set for the first of 12. More to come on how she fared...

Change You Can Believe In

After years of throwing my daily amassing of change into various containers around the house, I broke out the recently acquired coin sorter (thank you, Kathleen) on Tuesday and got to work. And work it was. Handfuls of coins in. Wrappers quickly filling. Sealing and exchanging full wrappers for empty ones. On and on this went. And, in fact, will continue until I wrap the approximately 2,000 pennies strewn on my coffee table. But the report so far is pretty good:

Dollars: $21.00
Quarters: $220.00
Dimes: $55.00
Nickels: $16.00
Pennies: $6.00….and counting

I think when all is said and done, I’ll have about $340 “newly” found ducats. Not too shabby. Now the question: what to do with this fortune. I could keep amassing until I have enough for a cool vacation or use it as the last payment on my credit card. But what else? I will take any and all suggestions. Some have suggested that I open an online account and start day trading…ok, that someone was me. After all, it is found money, right? Sure I could invest it, buy something for Syd, but…

So if you have any great ideas, let me know.